Everybody else realised that your posting made no sense. Maybe you should see Oblabla's doctors.

You may have missed some recent events, but we're all working toward a kinder, gentler OTW. Please stop with insults & personal attacks. Thanks._________________lolgov. 'cause where we're going, you don't have civil liberties.

I wasn't offended by his post, which was about as intelligent as cosmic background radiation. I'd rather he didn't waste server capacity, though._________________History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives. -- Abba Eban

I wasn't offended by his post, which was about as intelligent as cosmic background radiation. I'd rather he didn't waste server capacity, though.

Not being offended is great, but it unfortunately led to your insulting him in this comment. That's partly what I'm trying to reduce. So, stop! :D_________________lolgov. 'cause where we're going, you don't have civil liberties.

Did I insult him? I merely criticized what he said (which, one must admit, made no sense at all)._________________History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives. -- Abba Eban

If referring to a "post" as unintelligent is not a comment about the poster, then what is it a comment on, their keyboard?_________________lolgov. 'cause where we're going, you don't have civil liberties.

If referring to a "post" as unintelligent is not a comment about the poster, then what is it a comment on, their keyboard?

It's a comment about their post. Saying "nonsense" means somebody is not making sense; it doesn't mean they have no sense. Saying, "that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard" is not the same thing as saying "you're stupid". Admittedly, there are ways of avoiding such misinterpretation._________________History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives. -- Abba Eban

OK. There are less "problematic" means of conveying the idea. The other examples you gave seem much less harsh IMO.

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard" is less offensive than "that' post was about as intelligent as cosmic background radiation"?

If you say so.

I don't mean to disagree with your general intent of making discussion more civil, and I understand how it applies to what I said. I'm just pointing out that there is a difference between a personal attack and criticism of what someone has said. I'll try to exert some self-control and make my criticisms of what someone has said sound a little less like personal attacks._________________History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives. -- Abba Eban

It's a fine line. I mainly try to evaluate it from the other person's perspective, and the likelihood of a response in kind.

To me, "the stupidest thing I've read" seems more easily interpreted for the idea, while "cleverly" writing about the intelligence of something may seem like a sideways insult. Tongue-in-cheek or otherwise._________________lolgov. 'cause where we're going, you don't have civil liberties.